Duplex hook for hitching-straps, &amp;c.



Patented Aug. l2, I902.

E. n. MOOBMAN, Decd. S. M. MOORMAN, Administratrix. DUPLEX HOOK FUR HITCHING STRAPS, 8w.

(Application filed Jay. 21, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

ELI II. MOORMAN, OF WINTERSET, IOWA; SARAH M. MOORMAN ADMINIS- TRATRIX OF SAID ELI HQMOORMAN, DECEASED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 706,678, dated August 12, 1902. Applioatibn 0100 January 21,10 smart. 44,000. (N0m0de1.

Be itknown that I, ELI H. M ooRMAN, a citi-f zen of the United States, residing at Winterset,in the co u'nty of Madison and State of Iowa,

have invented a new and useful Duplex Hook for Ilitching-Straps, &c., of which the following is a specification.

My object is to provide asirnple and duraable coupling device for detachablyconnect- :0 ing a hitchingstrap to a bridle-ring and for like purposes in connecting parts of harness.

Heretofore snap-hooks having spring-actuated tongues have been used for such purpose; but springs and tongues'attached to a [5 hook often become inoperative and cause runaways and accidents. i

My invention consists inthe cons'truction, arrangement, and combination of two mating hooks with a flexible strap, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the'accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my invention applied to the end of a leather hitching-strap, as required for practical use.

Figs. 2 and 3 show the forms of the two mating right and left hooks adapted to be jointly connected with the end portionof a strap to couple to a ring, as shown'in'Fig. 1. Fig. 4:

, is an edge view showing the two mating 3o hooks overlying each other, as occurs when they are in theirnormal positions. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line a" 00 of Fig. 4.

The letters A and A designate the body portions of the two mating hooks curved in opposite directions at their rear end and provided with parallel transverse slots and cross-bars B and 13 between the slots, adapted to be jointly engaged by aleather strap 0, extended through the slots, and the overlying parts of the straps then fixed togetherby riveting or sewing, or detachably connected bymeans of a buckle, as shown in Fig. 1. Each body portion A and A has an integral hook D D extending forward in the plane of its front part and curved laterally, but in opposite directions relative to each other. Each body portion also has an integral projection orswell f, at the base of the hook adapting them to be in contact at their inner edges when the hooks are in overlying position, as shown in Fig. 1 and asrequired to prevent anylateral movements of the two matingparts when in engagement with a ring. Each body portion A. and A? has a loop at its rear that curves outward in such a manner that when a strap is connected with the two cross-bars B and B the loops will stand apart, so they can be pressed together for separating the hooks, as required,for connecting and disconnecting them with a ring. By connecting the two mating parts, having hooks projecting therefrom, by means of a leather strap, as shown in Figs. '1 and 4, a duplex hook is produced that is normally retained in a closed position by the resiliency of the flexible strap in such a manner that when thehooks jointly engage a ring the strap will be securely connected with the ring and a bridle or other parts of a harness to which the ring is attached, and force applied to the ring will aid in retaining the strap and ring connected. To disconnect the duplex hook from the ring the rear curved ends of the body portions of the mating parts A and A must be pressed toward each other in order to spread apart the hooks B and 13*, as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 4:.

Having described the construction, application, and operation of my invention, its practical utility willbe readily understood by persons familiar with the art to which it pertains, and

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent therefor, is-

A duplex hook for hitching-straps, consisting of two mating parts adapted to be adjust- 85 ably connected with a strap, each part consisting of a body portion that has a hook at its front end, a cross-bar in rear of the hook and a loop curved outwardly at its rear end in combination with a leather strap, as shown and described to operate: in themanner set forth for the purposes stated.

7 v ELI II. MOORM'AN. Witnesses: r G. H. GARRETT,

JOHN W. WILLIAMS. 

